The ‘homecoming’ rally reached Faizabad, three hours after the caravan left Punjab House in the capital for Lahore via the Grand Trunk (GT) Road.
Thousands of party supporters thronged the capital to join in the rally, setting up camps along the route he is expected to take and address supporters.
Before embarking on the journey, the Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N) leader held a meeting with key party leaders, including Prime Minister Khaqan Abbasi and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.
According to sources, around 1,000 vehicles are with the rally and some 5,000 supporters accompanying the ‘homecoming’ rally.
Sharif all set to lead ‘homegoing’ rally today
Sources in the ruling camp say deliberations in the party over the rally’s route continued on Tuesday, with some party circles having opposed the idea to travel via GT Road instead of the motorway due to security threats. They worried that while Nawaz himself would be travelling in an air-conditioned and bombproof container, accompanied by his family and senior PML-N leaders, the party’s rank-and-file would be exposed to serious security threats.
On July 28, a five-member Supreme Court bench hearing the Panama Papers case of Sharif family’s offshore assets had disqualified Nawaz from the PM’s office for failing to declare a salary, which he had not withdrawn as an executive of Dubai-based company, as an asset when filing his nomination papers in 2013.
“Nawaz Sharif is still our prime minister,” said worker Niaz Ahmad, who wore a lion look-alike costume, and chanted, “Lion, Lion!” referring to the election symbol of PML-N.
Rally plan
The rally will leave for Rawalpindi via Faizabad. Traffic on these routes would be diverted to alternate routes.
Sources say the PML-N leadership has instructed party officials to ensure participation in such huge numbers that it takes ‘at least three days’ to reach Lahore.
Nawaz would have overnight stops in Jhelum and Gujranwala before reaching Lahore. For this purpose, PML-N MNAs in both cities have been instructed to make arrangements to accommodate a large number of people.
Defence Minister Khurram Dastagir is handling affairs in Gujranwala and MNA Chaudhry Khadim Hussain in Jhelum, according to sources.
Citing security concerns, the Punjab government has instructed the owners of businesses located along the rally’s route to close their respective offices, shops, restaurants and other establishments ahead of the rally ‘till further orders’.
Speaking to Media, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed the development. “Businesses would only close in areas while the rally passes and would be allowed to resume business thereafter to avoid any harm,” the minister said.
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